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(No Model.)

0. A. GREGORY.

Patented Aug. 9, 1881.

UH [1B Nirnn STATES ATENT anion.

CHARLES A. GREGORY, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM AUGUSTIN MARCHAND AND CHARLES ARPIN, BOTH OF sr. JOHNS, CANADA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,484, dated August 9, 1881,

Application filed June 4, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALEXANDER GREGORY, of the city of Montreal, in the district of Monteal and Province of Quebec, in the Dominion of Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus used in saving life at fires and for other purposes, and is designed to provide a simple and efficient attachment to buildings, which can be readily operated from aconvenient point near the sidewalk or at any of the windows.

The apparatus consists of a box attached to the house under the eaves, said box containing a chain-ladder which can be run along a rod extending across the front of the building until it comes within reach of the window. The operation of opening the box and allowing the chain to fall is effected by a rod vertically fastened to the house and having the fastenings at its lower end under lock and key in a small box or casing. V

For full comprehension of my improved apparatus reference must be had to the annexed drawings, where- Figure 1 represents a view of a building supplied with my invention, the box being closed and the chain-ladder out of sight; and Fig. 2, a similar view, showing box in section and ladder hanging in position.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents a box or casing provided with a hinged flap, A, and of any configuration necessary or desirable for the purpose of bolding a chain-ladder, B, or any equivalent device when same is folded or drawn up. The upper end of this chain-ladder is provided with eyes, which allow it to slide upon and be carried by a rod or hanger, C,extending inside the whole length of the box A, and as far across the front of the building as is necessary to reach the windows from which the escape is to be made.

1) is a vertical rod attached to the house front underneath the center of the box A, or at one end of same. This rod works vertically in eyes D, or, if desired, in a tube or casing, and has its lower end secured by a pin or other device, 0, inside a box, E, which is fastened by lock and key. The upper end of this rod D is provided with a projection, cl, or has attached thereto any convenient device, which holds the hinged flapA fast when same is closed.

F is a rod or runner fastened to the house near the ground, to which the lower end of the chain-ladder A may be fastened if necessary.

When a fire takes place in the building to which my apparatus is attached a policeman, fireman, or any person provided with a key, unlocks the box E (in a similar manner to a fire'alarm) and removes the pin 0 or unfastens whatever device is used, which allows the ver tical rod D to slide down, thus releasing the flap A of the box A, which then swings outward by force of the weight inside, and allows the chain-ladder B to fall to its full length. The person below then draws this ladder along the rod or hanger C (the rings on its upper end running easily) until it comes opposite to the windows or within reach of the persons to be saved.

Instead of operating the escape from near the ground the rod may be connected with any one of the windows; but the method shown is the more preferable.

As in most cases where the use of the fireescape is necessary, the apparatus will be destroyed with the building, specific means are not herein shown for replacing the chain-ladder and closing the box A, but it must be understood that any means, such as cords or small chains run through rings in the ladder and through eyes or over pulleys contained in the box, may be introduced to draw up the ladder to its place inside the box, which may also be closed by means of levers connected with the upper end of the vertical rod D and, furthermore, the fall of the chain may be regulated in its rapidity by any suitable means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, is as follows:

1. The fire-escape herein described, consist on a rod or hanger extending along the front chain-ladder 13, substantially as and for the 10 of the building, said ladder when not in use purposes described.

being folded inside a box attached near the r t eaves, and said box being opened and ladder CHARLEs ALEXANDER GREGOR" allowed to fall by means of a connection near Witnesses:

the ground. R. ARTHUR KELLOND,

2. The combination, in a fire-escape, of the l EUGENE QUIRK.

ing of a chain-ladder attached to and sliding box A, Vertical rod D, rod or hanger O, and 1 

